The signature and predictive value of immune parameters in patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Abstract

Background

Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is a rare but fatal clinical syndrome, characterized by severe immune dysfunction and overwhelming inflammatory response. However, the host immune signature and also its role in predicting the clinical outcome are not fully described.

Objective

The present study aims to investigate the host immune status of sHLH patients in the early stage of the disease, including lymphocyte subsets, phenotypes and cytokines, and also to explore its clinical value in prognosis.

Methods

Sixty-four patients with sHLH admitted to a tertiary hospital in central China between 2018 and 2022 were enrolled, of which 21 were deceased. The subsets and phenotypes of lymphocytes, and the levels of cytokines in serum were analyzed.

Results

In patients with sHLH, the percentages of total T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, HLA-DR⁺ T cells, HLA-DR⁺CD8⁺ T cells, CD45RO⁺CD4⁺ T cells, and the levels of IL-1β, IL-2R, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α were significantly increased, while the percentages of CD4⁺ T cells, NK cells, CD45RA⁺CD4⁺ T cells, CD45RA⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells, the counts of total T cells, total B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells, and the ratio of CD4⁺ T/CD8⁺ T cells were significantly decreased, compared with healthy controls (HC). In addition, dysregulation of host immune response and high inflammatory status were more obvious in deceased patients than that of survivors. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that lower levels of CD4⁺ T cells count and CD28⁺CD4⁺ T cells percentage, but higher levels of NK cells percentage and IL-1β were poor prognostic indicators of sHLH.

Conclusion

The evaluation of immunological markers has critical value for selecting prognostic markers and potential treatment target among adults with sHLH.